Even with all the controversial changes to the format of NASCAR's top three divisions this year the ending of the sport's biggest race still had an exciting finish. Kurt Busch led just one lap of the Daytona 500, the last one, and it's the one he needed to win it for the first time in his career.  It also gave Tony Stewart his first win at the Daytona 500, as an owner.

Pole sitter Chase Elliott appeared to have the car to beat.  He led a long line of cars around the track lap after lap, but fuel problems caused his car to drift back into the pack setting the stage for the rest of the field to fight it out.  Kyle Larson put himself in the lead, only to have Busch take it away and speed off.

Ryan Blaney finished second with A.J. Almendinger, Aric Almirolo and Paul Menard completed the Top 5.  Kyle Larson finished 12th.  Elliott fell all the way back to 14th.

Only 25 of the starting 40 cars were running at the end after the race was marred by multiple crashes.  And those wrecks took out some of the biggest names; Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth.

Only five cars escaped being damaged in crashes and one of them was driven by Michael Waltrip who was driving in his 30th and final Daytona 500.

The season continues next week at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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